Mathura. Cybercriminals allegedly posing as Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) officers kept an elderly trader from Vrindavan under digital arrest for three days and duped him of ₹30 lakh. The fraudsters allegedly told the victim that his wife’s mobile number was being used fraudulently and had been linked to a criminal activity. They then threatened to send members of his family to jail and pressured him to transfer money. The victim was allegedly kept under continuous surveillance through phone calls and video calls before transferring ₹30 lakh. Following a complaint, the cyber police have registered a case and started an investigation.
Ratan Lal Agrawal, a resident of C-4 Shriji Kunj, Banke Bihari Basti, Vrindavan, told the police that he received a WhatsApp call from an unknown number on September 28. The caller allegedly identified himself as an ATS officer and claimed that the victim’s wife’s mobile number had been used in criminal activities. The caller allegedly described the matter as serious and threatened legal action, warning that members of the family could also be sent to jail.
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The fraudsters allegedly kept putting pressure on the elderly trader and instructed him not to disclose the matter to anyone. They remained in contact with him through phone and video calls and allegedly monitored him continuously. He was reportedly instructed not to speak to anyone else and to follow their directions. As a result, the victim remained under the alleged control of the cybercriminals for nearly three days.
After keeping him under fear and surveillance for three days, the fraudsters allegedly asked him to transfer ₹30 lakh. The victim collected the money from his different bank accounts and, on October 1, transferred ₹30 lakh through RTGS to a bank account provided by the alleged cybercriminals. The fraudsters allegedly continued communicating with him even after the transfer.
The incident came to light after the victim’s son learned about it and immediately filed an online complaint. The victim subsequently submitted a written complaint at the cyber police station. Based on the complaint, police registered a case and began examining the mobile numbers and bank accounts allegedly used in the fraud.
Police are now trying to trace the movement of the ₹30 lakh and determine the accounts into which the money was subsequently transferred. Investigators are examining mobile numbers and banking transactions to identify the alleged accused. Police are also looking into how many people were involved in the operation and whether the same gang may have targeted other victims using a similar method.
In digital-arrest scams, cybercriminals often impersonate police, ATS, CBI, Enforcement Directorate or other government officials to intimidate victims. They may falsely claim that the victim is linked to a criminal case, money laundering or an illegally operated mobile connection. The fraudsters then allegedly force victims to remain on video calls, prevent them from contacting others and demand money in the name of an investigation.
In the Mathura case, the cybercriminals allegedly established credibility by posing as government officials and then used the threat of imprisonment of the victim’s family to pressure him into transferring the money. Police are now conducting a technical and financial investigation into the case. Further action will be taken based on the findings of the investigation.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
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